Dual hook clasp
A clasp having two opposing parallel hooks coupled together by a pivot joint. The shank of the first hook is disposed above the plane of rotation while the bend of the first hook is disposed below the plane, and the shank of the second hook is disposed below the plane while the bend of the second hook is disposed above the plane. A protrusion on the first shank engages with a depression on the second shank to latch the clasp in a “closed” configuration. The protrusion engages with an edge of the second shank to latch the clasp in a “crossed” configuration.
The present invention relates to hooks that may be attached to cords, ropes, or webbing for tying, bundling, or securing objects. Example applications include bungee cords, tie downs, tarp straps, cargo cords, and stretch cords. Hereafter, the term “tie down” is used generically to refer to any hook-and-cord apparatus having a segment of cord with a rigid hook attached or coupled thereto. The cord may be made of any suitable natural or synthetic materials, and it may be elastic or inelastic. The hook may be made of any suitable natural or synthetic materials, for example metal or plastic. The hook may be manufactured by any suitable method, for example stamping, casting, molding, or milling.
The shank, gape, and throat of a hook determine the size and type of objects that can be grappled. For example, a hook having a shallow throat (a short bend) may have difficulty securely attaching around an object, but it may be easy to insert into a small hole through a flat surface. On the other hand, a hook having a deep throat (a long bend) may easily attach around an object, but it may be difficult or impossible to insert into a small hole through a flat surface.
Some standard “S” and “C” hooks have deep throats, and are therefore not suitable for all applications. Consequently, some tie downs have hooks that are specially shaped for certain applications. Alternatively, some tie downs have a generic fitting attached to the cord so any hook with a complementary fitting can be connected thereto. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,069,539; 8,099,838; US 2009/0119891.
Sometimes the hooks of tie downs may tangle with each other and with the cords when stored together in a bin. To help prevent this, some tie-down designs permit the hooks to interlock or nest together for tangle-free storage. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 9,249,825.
Some S and C hooks, as well as snap hooks and carabiners, do not provide an adequate grip for a user to hold onto when pulling the hook. A tie down that recoils when a user loses his grip may cause injury. Additionally, a user's finger may be pinched between a hook and an object during use. Consequently, some hook designs have a pull tab on the shank that can be gripped with a finger. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,380,101; 5,317,788; 6,938,306; US 2013/0232733.
Finally, a notable limitation of some standard S and C hooks is that they may detach from an object due to slack in the cord, shifting of cargo, or vibrations. Carabiners and snap hooks address this limitation by providing a pivoting or sliding gate that creates an enclosed loop. The gate of such a carabiner or snap hook may pivot within the plane of the hook inwardly or outwardly; the gate may pivot above or below the plane of the hook; or the gate may slide or translate. The gate may be biased by a spring, magnet, flexible member, and so on. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 827,206. The gate may be short and straight or it may be long and bent, sometimes resembling a second hook. For example, some clasps comprise two parallel hooks that face each other and pivot about a common joint. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 222,324; 294,449; 397,136; 656,923; 712,959; 878,274; 955,070; 1,262,974; 1,512,914; 2,128,804; 2,795,024; 3,002,242; 3,128,520; 3,638,283; 5,050,273; 6,202,267; 6,460,225; 9,333,895; US 2004/0134118. Some of these clasps include a stop or lock mechanism to prevent the hooks from pivoting beyond a certain angle relative to each other, for example to prevent the hooks from opening too widely. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 682,684; 2,874,435; 3,956,804; 5,956,980; US 2018/0187712. Some of these clasps include a means to bias or retain the hooks into certain positions relative to each other, for example to hold the clasp opened or closed via a spring, a ball roller, a locking ring, or a protrusion on one hook that engages with a depression on the other hook. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 878,274; 931,588; 1,262,974; 1,584,307; 1,686,424; 2,731,695; 2,761,190; 3,072,987; 3,422,964; 3,956,804; 10,731,698; US 2018/0187712; EP 2,347,668; DE 3,336,115.
Four issues of hook devices have been described above: (1) hooks that have too deep or too shallow throats for an application; (2) hooks that readily tangle with cords and other hooks; (3) hooks that lack adequate grip for a user; and (4) hooks that accidentally detach from an object. This disclosure teaches an improved hook, hook assembly, and tie-down that address one or more of these issues.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis disclosure teaches a versatile hook assembly, or clasp, that may be used by itself or in cooperation with a rope, cord, webbing, shock cord, elastic strap, or chain to tie, strap, bundle, or secure objects. The hook assembly comprises two parallel hooks that face, or oppose, each other. Each hook may pivot, or rotate, independently about a common pivot joint. By such pivoting, the hooks may be positioned at various angles with respect to each other to bring about various hook-assembly configurations, including “opened,” “intermediate,” “closed,” and “crossed” configurations that are discussed in the detailed description below.
The hook assembly may include at least one pair of complementary retaining elements, or retainers, that aid in retaining, or latching, the hooks in a particular configuration. A first retainer of a pair may be defined on a first hook and a complementary second retainer of the pair may be defined on a second hook. For example, a retainer pair may comprise a protrusion on the first hook and a complementary depression on the second hook. When the retainers engage, the hooks experience a retentive resistance to rotate relative to each other. This retentive resistance occurs in the intermediate, closed, and crossed configurations discussed in the detailed description below. When no retainers are engaged, the hooks may rotate freely relative to each other. This occurs in the opened configuration discussed in the detailed description below. Retainers may be referred to as detentes, snaps, receivers, acceptors, registers, embossments, bumps, protrusions, peaks, ridges, dents, dimples, troughs, grooves, depressions, notches, edges, kinks, corrugations, bends, deformities, edges, and so on.
A retainer may be biased by a spring acting parallel and/or perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the hooks. Retainers may have various retention resistance. A user may overcome the retention resistance by applying sufficient and lateral or medial force to one or both hooks, i.e., forcing the hooks towards or away from each other within the plane of rotation of the hooks.
The following numerals are used to identify the corresponding elements in the figures for the several embodiments.
-
- 100 hook assembly
- 200 deep hook
- 210 sleeve
- 220 protrusion
- 230 depression
- 230x protrusion
- 240 lateral edge
- 250 hole
- 260 planar crossover
- 270 bend
- 280 shank
- 300 shallow hook
- 310 sleeve
- 320 protrusion
- 320x depression
- 330 depression
- 340 lateral edge
- 350 hole
- 360 planar crossover
- 370 bend
- 380 shank
- 400 bushing
- 410 tube
- 420 flange
- 430 groove
- 440 snap ring
- 450 hole
- 460 recess
- 470 plug
- 480 flange
- 490 recess
- 500 cord
As shown in
The following discussion relates to the embodiment shown in
Because the shank 280 is above the plane of rotation while the bend 270 is below the plane of rotation, and further because the shank 380 is below the plane of rotation while the bend 370 is above the plane of rotation, any deviation of either bend 270 or bend 370 away from the plane of rotation (in the z-direction away from each other) causes the complementary retainers to press against each other rather than to separate. Thus, because of the planar crossover 260 and the planar crossover 360, the complementary retainers will remain engaged regardless of deviations of the bend 270 and/or the bend 370 away from the plane of rotation, which may be common during use.
Upon application of sufficient lateral force to either the deep hook 200 or the shallow hook 300 when the hook assembly is in the closed position, the protrusion 220 may be forced to disengage with the depression 330, and the protrusion 320 may be forced to disengage with the depression 230, thereby permitting relative rotation of the deep hook 200 laterally away from the shallow hook 300. This may cause the hook assembly 100 into the opened configuration as shown in
Upon application of sufficient medial force to either the deep hook 200 or the shallow hook 300 when the hook assembly is in the closed position, the protrusion 220 may be forced to disengage with the depression 330, and the protrusion 320 may be forced to disengage with the depression 230, thereby permitting relative rotation of the deep hook 200 medially towards the shallow hook 300. This may cause the hook assembly 100 into the crossed configuration as shown in
The following discussion relates to the embodiment shown in
Because the shank 280 is above the plane of rotation while the bend 270 is below the plane of rotation, and further because the shank 380 is below the plane of rotation while the bend 370 is above the plane of rotation, any deviation of either bend 270 or bend 370 away from the plane of rotation (in the z-direction away from each other) causes the complementary retainers to press against each other rather than to separate. Thus, because of the planar crossover 260 and the planar crossover 360, the complementary retainers will remain engaged regardless of deviations of the bend 270 and the bend 370 away from the plane of rotation, which may be common during use.
Upon application of sufficient lateral force to either the deep hook 200 or the shallow hook 300 when the hook assembly is in the closed position, the depression 230 may be forced to disengage with the protrusion 320, thereby permitting relative rotation of the deep hook 200 laterally away from the shallow hook 300. This may cause the hook assembly 100 into the opened configuration as shown in
Upon application of sufficient medial force to either the deep hook 200 or the shallow hook 300 when the hook assembly is in the closed position, the depression 230 may be forced to disengage with the protrusion 320, thereby permitting relative rotation of the deep hook 200 medially towards the shallow hook 300. This may cause the hook assembly 100 into the crossed configuration as shown in
The foregoing embodiments are exemplary and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. Various implementations and combinations of these embodiments have been recognized and anticipated. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such embodiments that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A clasp comprising:
- a pivot joint having an axis perpendicular to a plane;
- a first hook comprising: a first sleeve, disposed below the plane, coupled to the pivot joint, a first shank, disposed below the plane, defining a first upward protrusion, and a first bend disposed above the plane;
- a second hook comprising: a second sleeve, disposed above the plane, coupled to the pivot joint, a second shank, disposed above the plane, defining a second upward depression and a second lateral edge, and a second bend, disposed below the plane, facing opposite the first bend;
- wherein: the first upward protrusion engages with the second upward depression when the first bend substantially overlaps the second bend; and the first upward protrusion engages with the second lateral edge when a base of the first bend abuts a base of the second bend.
2. The clasp of claim 1 wherein the pivot joint comprises a bushing disposed within the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
3. The clasp of claim 1 wherein the pivot joint comprises a tube extending from the first sleeve and disposed within the second sleeve.
4. The clasp of claim 3 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
5. The clasp of claim 3 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular groove adapted to receive a retaining ring adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
6. The clasp of claim 3 wherein the tube is adapted to receive a plug having an annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
7. The clasp of claim 1 wherein:
- the first shank defines a first downward depression and a first lateral edge; and
- the second shank defines a second downward protrusion;
- wherein: the second downward protrusion engages with the first downward depression when the first bend substantially overlaps the second bend; and the second downward protrusion engages with the first lateral edge when the base of the first bend abuts the base of the second bend.
8. The clasp of claim 7 wherein the pivot joint comprises a bushing disposed within the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
9. The clasp of claim 7 wherein the pivot joint comprises a tube extending from the first sleeve and disposed within the second sleeve.
10. The clasp of claim 9 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
11. The clasp of claim 9 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular groove adapted to receive a retaining ring adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
12. The clasp of claim 9 wherein the tube is adapted to receive a plug having an annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
13. A clasp comprising:
- a pivot joint having an axis perpendicular to a plane;
- a first hook comprising: a first sleeve, disposed below the plane, coupled to the pivot joint, a first shank, disposed below the plane, defining a first upward protrusion, a first downward depression, and a first lateral edge, and a first bend disposed above the plane; and
- a second hook comprising: a second sleeve, disposed above the plane, coupled to the pivot joint, a second shank, disposed above the plane, defining a second upward depression, a second downward protrusion, and a second lateral edge, and a second bend, disposed below the plane, facing opposite the first bend;
- wherein: the first upward protrusion engages with the second upward depression, and the second downward protrusion engages with the first downward depression, when the first bend substantially overlaps the second bend; and the first upward protrusion engages with the second lateral edge, and the second downward protrusion engages with the first lateral edge, when a base of the first bend abuts a base of the second bend.
14. The clasp of claim 13 wherein the pivot joint comprises a bushing disposed within the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
15. The clasp of claim 13 wherein the pivot joint comprises a tube extending from the first sleeve and disposed within the second sleeve.
16. The clasp of claim 15 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
17. The clasp of claim 15 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular groove adapted to receive a retaining ring adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
18. The clasp of claim 15 wherein the tube is adapted to receive a plug having an annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
19. A clasp comprising:
- a first hook comprising; a first sleeve, disposed below a plane, defining a tube extending upward perpendicular to the plane, a first shank, disposed below the plane, defining a first upward protrusion, a first downward depression, and a first lateral edge, and a first bend disposed above the plane; and
- a second hook comprising: a second sleeve, disposed above the plane, defining a hole adapted to receive the tube, a second shank, disposed above the plane, defining a second upward depression, a second downward protrusion, and a second lateral edge, and a second bend, disposed below the plane, facing opposite the first bend;
- wherein; the first upward protrusion engages with the second upward depression, and the second downward protrusion engages with the first downward depression, when the first bend substantially overlaps the second bend; and the first upward protrusion engages with the second lateral edge, and the second downward protrusion engages with the first lateral edge, when a base of the first bend abuts a base of the second bend.
20. The clasp of claim 19 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
21. The clasp of claim 19 wherein the tube comprises a distal annular groove adapted to receive a retaining ring adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
22. The clasp of claim 19 wherein the tube is adapted to receive a plug having an annular flange adapted to engage with the second sleeve.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 28, 2020
Date of Patent: Jan 18, 2022
Inventor: Erik Vaclav Chmelar (Midland, MI)
Primary Examiner: David M Upchurch
Application Number: 17/106,096